"What takes up so much space on my PC?" Many Windows users are curious about this question, particularly when the system becomes sluggish or the Local Disk C: is full, and they doubt something behind the scenes is taking a large amount of disk space.
This post primarily shows how to see what takes up space on PC through various tools or utilities in Windows. It also shows how to find large files or folders in Windows, such as the $WinREAgent Folder, Windows.old Folder, Pagefile.sys File, Windows.edb File, or other unnecessary files on Windows 10.
Reddit discussions on how to see what takes up space on PC
There are heated discussions in the post on Reddit about "what takes up so much space on my PC". Netizens and geeks shared their opinions and tips on this topic. You can click the Reddit post below to view the details.
Can’t find what’s taking up so much space
by u/Schxdenfreude in Windows10
How to see what takes up space on PC
This article lists some tools or utilities in Windows that you can rely on to check what takes up so much space on your PC.
| Method / Tool | Primary Capabilities | Key Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Storage Settings (Settings > System > Storage) |
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| Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr.exe) |
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| System Restore (sysdm.cpl) |
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| iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows (Third-Party Alternative) |
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How to see what takes up space on PC via Settings
The Windows Settings app allows you to view the storage condition of different disks on your PC. Additionally, you can uninstall unwanted software or apps through Settings.
Here's how to check what takes up space on PC via Settings:
- Press the "Windows+I" keys or click the gear icon in the "Start" menu to open Settings.
- Select System > Storage.
- Check what's taking up the space of the System (C:) drive, and pick a category to check for the details.
- Click “View storage usage on other drives” to check more.
- In “Apps & games”, you can uninstall the unwanted or unused apps to free up disk space.
- In “Temporary files”, tick the unnecessary temporary files and tap on “Remove files.”
How to see what takes up space on PC via the built-in Disk Cleanup tool
The built-in Disk Cleanup tool in Windows can help you clear the disk space by digging out Temporary Files, Thumbnails, Previous Windows Installation(s), etc.
Here's how to see what takes up space on PC via the built-in Disk Cleanup tool:
- In the Start menu, search for "Disk Cleanup."
- Tap on the “Disk Cleanup” result
- Choose the C drive.
- Check what system files are taking up space on your PC.
- Tick the files you don't need and click "OK" to delete.
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How to see what takes up space on PC by checking disk space used for System Restore
System Restore in Windows is a built-in feature that allows you to revert the system files, applications, and settings to a previous working state. This is helpful when the system malfunctions or encounters other problems.
However, the restore points (snapshots of system state) created by this feature may take up large disk space, though it depends on how much space users allocate to the System Restore.
How to see what takes up space on PC by checking disk space used for System Restore:
- Press the “Windows+S” keys to launch the Windows search box.
- Type "create a restore point" in the search box and click the result to open.
- Choose the system drive and click "Configure."
- Check the disk space usage of System Restore.
- Adjust the max usage or delete all restore points based on your needs.
How to see what takes up space on PC through iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows
The capability of the bulit-in utilities in showing space usage and reclaiming more free space is limited. If you want to find what's actually taking up space on your PC, and delete the large files and other unnecessary files that are safe to delete, iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows is the tool you need.
It displays space usage on your C drive in different categories, including hidden system & app caches, system components, temporary files, logs & dumps, personal files and large files. The built-in AI also explains what a files does and whether it's safe to delete.
Here's how to find what takes up space on PC:
- Download, install, and launch iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows.
- In the AI disk space optimization module, tap the Clean button next to the system drive (Local Disk (C:).
- Once the scan is complete, you can view the information in the left side to learn how much space each category takes.
If you want to clean the system junk and other unwanted files, select the files and click Cleanup. Find more details in this guide: How to Free Up Space on Windows?
To check the space usage of the C drive, click the Optimize button beside it. Then all files on it will be listed in descending order by size. You can choose to view them in list or a visual mode.
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